Apparatus for fastening filled bags



No. 752,373. PATENTED FEB. 16,1904.

B. F. BROWN. A APPARATUS FOR FASTENING FILLED BAGS.

APPLIOATION PILEDJULY 16, 1903.

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*Ewem j MIKE-row? N0.'752,373 PATBNTED FEB. 16, 1904.

' y B. F. BROWN.

APPARATUS POE FASTENING FILLED BAGS;

' KPPLIGATION FILED JULY 15, 1903; 'N0 MOD L.

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UNITED STATES Patented February 16, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR FASTENING FILLED BAGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 752,373, datedFebruary 16, 1904,

Application filed July 16', 1903. Serial No. 165,750. (No model.)

the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a specification,

like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the pro duction of apparatus forfacilitating fastening or closing up in a substantial manner the mouthsof bags which have been properly filled at a previous operation.

More particularly, my invention is designed for use in the handling ofbags which contain one or more smaller bags or packages which arethemselves sealed-such, for instance, as bags which contain assortedpackages of seeds or other articles.

Usually the requisite number of small bags or packages which form thequota of each large bag are inserted into the latter by passing the bagsin succession through the hands of successive operatives, each oneplacing in every bag as it comes along a package containing a certainarticle, so that finally the desired number of packages in each bag isattained and the bag is filledthat is, each bag has its proper contents.The filled bags are then turned up and jogged. or shaken to direct theircontents away from the open mouths, and the long lip of each bag isfolded over, closing the month. By any suitable mechanism the bag havingits mouth so closed is permanently fastened, so that its contents cannotescape. One form of fastening mechanism which is employed inserts wirestaples through the folded lip and sides of the bag, a

mechanism of this character being shown in United States Patent No.662,184, dated 'November 20, 1900.

In handling large numbers of bags either a great many fastening-machinesmust be employed, involving a large expense therefor with acorrespondingly large force of operatives, or means must be provided forso facilitating the work that a comparatively small number of machinesand operatives can handle it. In

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof.

my present invention I have provided such means, and with a'small numberof fastening mechanisms I can handle great numbers of bags in a rapidand effective manner.

Figure 1 is a top or plan View of an apparatus embodying my invention, aset or series of three fasteningmechanisms being shown.

a greatly enlarged transverse sectional view on the line 3 3, Fig. 1,looking toward the right, and Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a bag suchas is employed in connection with my invention.

Inasmuch as the fastening mechanismis not I of my invention and is ofwell-known construction it is not shown in detail and requires littledetailed description other than to refer to the overhanging arm 1, thedriving-shaft 2, the wire-feeding arm 3, the spool of wire 106, thebelt-pulley 104 on the shaft 2, and the upturned jack 91, allsubstantially as in the patent referred to and operating as therein setforth, the wire feeding, cutting, bending, driving, and clenchingmechanisms not being shownin any detail.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown three fastening mechanisms I, II', and IIIarranged in a row and laterally separated by a considerable distancefrom each other, all of the mechanisms facing in one direction and beingdriven from any suitable source of power. (Not shown.) I desire it to beunderstood that my invention is not, however, dependent upon orrestricted to the fastening mechanism referred to, for any othermechanism which will permanently fasten the mouths of the bags may beused without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Theupturned front. portions of the jacks 91 have rigidly secured to them ashelf-like work-support w, extended from one to the other of the severalmechanisms, and viewing Figs. 1 and 2 it is extended a considerabledistance to the right of the mechanism I at the feed side thereof.

As shown in Fig. 1, a V-shaped opening to is made in the work-support infront of each fastening mechanism to permit the proper cooperationof'the stapling and clenching de-, vices thereof, and an upright gage wextends along the back of the work-support to guide tutes a downhold,for a purpose to be de-- ,scribed, said downhold being interrupted ateach fastening mechanism to avoid interference therewith.

In front of the series of mechanisms-an upright stand or frame C isrigidly secured to the floor and connected by horizontal tie-rods 0 Fig.3, with a series of standards 0*, arranged between the fasteningmechanisms and behind each end of the stand G.

As shown in Fig. 3, the heads of the stands C have upturned parallelside plates 0 extending from one to the other end of the apparatus, Fig.1, and passing through the U- shaped part of the frame of each fasteningmechanism, for a purpose to be described.

A series of brackets 0 project forward from the top of stand C,supporting a long jogging-shelf J, as I have termed it, an upright ledge0 being secured to the brackets at the rear edge of said shelf, (bestshown in Figs- 1' and 3,) for a purpose to be described.

Upright brackets C, Fig. 3, secured to the tie-rods 0 back of the standC, sustain a second upright ledge 0 and between said ledges 0 0 travelsthe upper run of an endless belt conveyer D, mounted on drums D Dsecured to shafts d d respectively, Fig. 2, journaled in the stand C andthe endmost standards C A belt-pulley D on the shaft d, Fig. 1, isdriven by a suitable belt from a source of power (not shown) to move theupper run of the conveyer D from right to left, viewing Figs. 1 and 2. IA second endless conveyer E is mounted on drums E E secured,respectively, to the rear ends of the shafts d d said conveyer travelingbetween the parallel sides 0 as clearly shown in Fig. 3, the sidesprojecting a considerable distance above the upper run of said conveyer,and it will also be manifest by reference to said Fig. 3 that thetie-rods 0 support at intervals the upper and lower runs of bothconveyers D and E.

The upper run of the conveyer D travels below and near the work-supportw and behind and substantially on a level with the joggingshelf J, whilethe upper run of the conveyer E is behind the work-support. I

A portion of a third conveyer F is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it beingsupposed to lead from filling-tables to the right-hand end of theconveyer D, the conveyer-drum F being shown in Fig. 2 as slightly abovethe top of the conveyer D, so that filled bags placed upon the conveyerFwill be dropped onto conveyer D, and by the latter carried along infront of the series of fastening mechanisms. Each 'of the latter has anattendant to operate it and to feed the bags one by one thereto to havetheir mouths securely fastened, and in Fig. 1 the positions of theattendants are indicated by the circles M, and at the right of eachmachine operator one or more operatives are located, as indicated by thecircles N N, and their duties will be explained in the description ofthe operation of the apparatus.

The bags B are of the general shape shown in Fig.- 4:, the body havingone of its-sides extended at the mouth of the bag to form a lip 6*,which is folded over on the dotted line b to close the bag.

In Fig. 4: the bag is shown as pinched or fulled at its opposite sidesto open it out and permit its contents to drop to the bottom when thebag is turned upright, as in dotted lines, Fig. 3. Let it be supposedthat the bags have a certain number of small packages or bags of seedsor other material inserted therein at suitable filling-tables, (notsl1own,) each bag when provided with its proper quota being placed onthe conveyer F, whereby it is moved along to and discharged upon theupper run of the conveyer D, which delivers the bags into position to befurther manipulated. As the bags arrive in front. of the operators at NN they are taken off one by one, turned upright, and jogged or shaken onthe shelf-J to settle their contents toward the bottoms of the bags, andthe lips If. are folded over, closing the mouths. As each attendantcloses the mouth of a bag she places it on the work-support w, as shownin Fig. 3, with its .mouth beneaththe downhold @11 the latter serving tohold the lip folded over and preventing it from unfolding orstraightening out. As the bags are delivered rapidly by the conveyer D,it is not possible for the one or two operatives N at the right of thefastening mechanism I to handle all of them, and the next pair ofoperatives N N handle in the manner described some of the bags which arebrought along by the conveyer, preparing them to be fed to the mechanismII. So, too, the last pair of operatives take care of the bags whichpass the second pair, it being understood that if more fasteningmechanisms are arranged 1n the series the conveyer D Wlll be run at ahigherv speed. The speed in any case will depend on the number offastening mechanisms in the series and the number of bags which will beplaced upon the delivering-conveyer D.

The sole duty of the operatives at N is to transfer the bags from theconveyor D, close their mouths, as described, and place them upon thework-support win readiness to be fed to the fastening mechanisms at theconvenience of the operative feeding it.

Each of the machine-tenders at M slides the closed bags along sidewiseand presents them one by one to the fastening mechanism to permanentlyfasten down the folded overlip b the fastening operation being veryrapid and usually enabling one machine-tender to handle the closed bagssupplied by two bag-handlers, though the number of the latter for eachmachine-tender may be increased or diminished, according tocircumstances.

As each bag is fastened the operative at M throws or tips it up andbackward into the trough with a traveling bottom, formed by the sides 0and upper run of conveyer E, and the fastened bags are carried away anddischarged into any suitable receptacles.

. To prevent any bags from dropping down between the back of thework-supportand the nearer of the sides 0 I prefer to cover theintervening space by a cover-board T.

With an apparatus such as herein described I am enabled to handle greatquantities of bags in a rapid, convenient, and effective manner and witha comparatively small number of operatives.

It will be obvious that the number of fas tening mechanisms isimmaterial so far as my invention is concerned, and it will also bemanifest that the bags could bejogged on the shelflike support to, ifdesired, thereby dispensing with the jogging-shelf J; but I prefer touse the latter, as its location is more convenient and the work-supportcan be more fully utilized to store up or hold closed bags in readinessfor the fastening operation.

The conveyer D is located below the support to, so that the bags nothandled by the first set of operatives will pass without hindrance tothe next set, and such bags as are not there handled and placed upon thesupport will be conveyed to the third set of operatives, and so on.

It is not feasible to feed the bags directly to the fastening mechanismfrom the conveyer, because if the bags come along more rapidly than theycan be fastened confusionwould at once arise and the apparatus wouldhave to be stopped.

As the conveyer D is located below and near the support, it is very easyfor the operatives to take off the filled bags, jog them, and closetheir mouths and then pile them on the support w to await their turn tobe fed, and the conveyer can then be run continuously without confusionor any piling up of the bags.

It will be obvious that the support to serves as a species of reservoirto enable the operatives to accomplish the work desiredthat is, if thefeeding of the bags to the fastening mechanism is rapid the number ofbags piled upon the support w will be smaller, possibly just aboutkeeping pace with the feeding.

Should it happen, however, that for some reason the bags should arrivemore rapidly than they could be fed to the fastening mechanisms, thenthe support would serve to hold the over flow and act as a reservoiruntil feeding caught up again. This provision of the intermediatesupport gives the whole apparatus great elasticity, as it were, adaptingit to the varying conditions which are liable to occur in the operationthereof.

Were it not for the intermediate support it would be impossible to runthe apparatus continuously without permitting at times a large number ofbags to go past without attention, for it will be obvious that should afastening mechanism be stopped temporarily for any reason the operativesN can keep right on with their Work and place the bags on the support inreadiness to be fed when the fastening mechanism is again started.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

, 1. In apparatus of the class described, abag' fastening mechanism, ashelf-like work-support in cooperative relation thereto and having atits back a downhold for the bag-lips, and a conveyer to deliver filledbags into position for transfer to the work-support, the

position for transfer thereto, the mouths of the bags with their lipsfolded over being inserted beneath the downhold when the bags are placedupon the work-support, said downhold retaining the lips in position tobe fastened when the bags are fed to the fastening mechanism.

, 3. In apparatus of the class described, a bagfastening mechanism, anendless conveyer to deliver filled bags into position .to be transferredto the said mechanism, an intermediate,

elongated shelf above said conveyer and constituting a worksupport forthe fastening mechanism, and means located at the back of the shelf tohold the lips of the bags folded over in readiness to be fed to saidmechanism, the bags being manually removed from the conveyer and theirlips folded over before placing them upon the shelf.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a bag fastening mechanism, ashelf-like worksup' port in cooperative relation thereto and having atits back a downhold for the bag-lips, a conveyer in front of saidwork-support to deliver filled bags into position to be transferredthereto, the mouths of the bags with their lips folded over beinginserted beneath the downhold when the bags are placed upon thework-support, and a second conveyermovable behind the work-support, toreceive upon it and carry away the bags after having been fastened bysaid fastening mechanism.

5. In apparatus of the class described, two endless conveyers placedside by side and near each other, a work-supporting and feed shelffixedly mounted above and extended partly over one of said conveyers, adownhold for the bag-lips extended along the back of said shelf, amechanism to act upon and fasten the mouths of bags when fed theretoalong the shelf, and a jogging-shelf in front of the bagdeliveringconveyer, the filled bags presented by the conveyer being manuallyupturned and their contents shaken down upon the joggingshelf and theend lips folded over to close the bag-mouths. I

6. In apparatus for fastening filled bags, a plurality of bag-fasteningmechanisms, a shelflike work support extended in front of saidmechanisms in cooperative relation thereto, and having at its back alongitudinally-extended downhold for the bag-lips, and a conveyerextending the length of and adjacent said worksupport, to deliver filledbags into position for manual transfer to the work-support adjacent theseveral fastening mechanisms, the mouths of the bags with their lipsfolded over being inserted beneath the downhold and being held by it inposition to be fastened as the bags are fed along the work support to afastening mechanism.

7 In apparatus for fastening filled bags, a plurality of bag-fasteningmechanisms, a shelflike work-support extended in front of saidmechanisms in cooperative relation thereto,

' and having at its back a longitudinally-extended downhold for thebag-lips, a conveyer extendingv the length of and adjacent saidworksupport, to deliver filled bags into position for manual transfer tothe work-support adjacent the several fastening mechanisms, the mouthsof the bags with their lips folded over being inserted beneath thedownhold and being held by it in position to be fastened as the bags arefed along the work-support to a fastening mechanism, and a secondconveyer back of the delivering conveyer to receive and remove the bagsafter their mouths have been fastened by the fastening mechanisms.

8. In apparatus for fastening filled bags, a series of laterallyseparated bag fastening mechanisms, a shelf-like work-support common toall of said mechanisms and extended from one to the other end of theseries, an overhanging, forwardly-projecting downhold arranged at theback of the work-support to retain folded the lips of the bags wheninserted thereunder preparatory to feeding to the fastening mechanisms,and an endless conveyer having its upper run located below thework-support and adjacent thereto, said conveyer moving filled bags intoposition to be conveniently transferred manually to the work-supportafter their lips have been folded over, the bags being fed one by one tothe fastening mechanisms while their lips are held dowln in position forfastening by the downhol 9. In apparatus for fastening filled bags, aplurality of bag-fastening mechanisms, a shelflike work-support extendedin front of said mechanisms in cooperative relation thereto, and havingat its back a longitudinally-extended downhold for the bag-lips, aconveyer extending the length of and adjacent said worksupport, todeliver filled bags into position for manual transfer to thework-support adjacent the severalfastening mechanisms, the mouths of thebags with their lips folded over being inserted beneath the downhold andbeing held by it in position to be fastened as the bags are fed' alongthe work-support to a fastening mechanism, a second conveyer back of thedelivering-conveyer, to receive and remove the bags the mouths whereofhave been closed by the fastening mechanisms and upturned, parallel andstationary sides between which said conveyer travels, to form therewitha trough having a traveling bottom.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. BROWN.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. GREGORY, MARGARET A. DUNN.

